Rigaud, Hyacinthe

Rigaud, Hyacinthe (Hyacinthe Rigaud y Ros) (yäsăNt` rēgō` ē rôs), 1659–1743, French portrait painter, b. Perpignan. From 1688 he became almost exclusively the official painter of the French court. His sitters included most of the royal family and distinguished visitors at Versailles. Much of his portrait style is based on Van Dyck and stresses social rank over the individuality of his subjects. He is best known for his portraits of Louis XIV, in which the regal bearing and splendid costume of the ruler are accentuated. Rigaud is well represented in the Louvre.